Statue Of First Black Professional Footballer Unveiled

After roughly seven years in the making, a monument of one of (world) football’s early legends has been revealed at St. George’s Park in England. The modern day fan may not be so familiar with his name, however, Arthur Wharton was a true hero who paved the way for thousands upon thousands of black professional footballers to this day. Originally from Jamestown, Gold Coast (modern day Accra, Ghana) Wharton arrived in England in the late 1800’s to serve as a Christian missionary. Lore has it that he was the first man in England to run 100 meters in 10 seconds, making his athleticism an undeniable skill that eventually led him to cease his religious initiative. Certainly an all around talented player, he played mainly as a goalkeeper and an occasional winger at an amateur level for for clubs Darlington and Preston North End. Wharton made such a name for himself on the football pitch to the point where professional team Rotherham Town offered him a contract in 1889. At that point, history was made.